Edward was in the middle of getting dressed for work when Scheduler decided to appear. Her visit was a surprise; he hadn't seen her at all in two days.

"Hi!" she greeted as Edward finished tying his shoes.

"Hey," he replied. "So, I haven't seen you in a while. What's up?"

"Aww, did someone miss me?" Scheduler cooed.

"Well, I did enjoy my peace and quiet."

"Shut up. I know you did," she swatted him playfully before plopping down on the sofa next to him. "Things have just been pretty crazy up in the main office these past couple of days, so I'm sorry that I didn't get to check up on you. I assume everything's been fine?"

"They have," Edward nodded.

"And?"

"And…what?"

"Aren't you going to elaborate? C'mon, I need a status update!"

Edward filled Scheduler in on everything that happened since he last saw her. Scheduler listened attentively as he told her about seeing Bella again, his altercation with Jacob at Heaven, Jacob and Rosalie's evil plan, and his intent of stopping them.

"Edward," she shook her head after he finished. "You shouldn't be focusing on that right now. Your priority should be this." She lifted his wrist and pointed to his cuff.

"I know, I know. Collecting the tears is important," Edward conceded. "But it's my family they're targeting, not just me. Sched, they plan on taking over and leaving them penniless!"

"Look, I know you care about them, and the fact that you want to help is really admirable, but it isn't your mission. Getting back to your body is. " Scheduler placed a hand on his shoulder. "Need I remind you that your life is at stake here?"

"Well, so is my family's. I can't just let those two snakes destroy everything my dad has worked for."

"And I get that. I'm just saying that your main concern should be getting those tears. Just…think of it this way: once you get them, you'll return to your body, then you'll get to warn your parents about Jacob and Rosalie."

"But it might be too late by then!"

"You're not thinking all that logically right now, Ed," Scheduler scolded him. "Face it; you can't really do anything about the situation as Jasper. I mean, what are you going to do? Just barge into your hospital room and announce to your parents what your best friend and fiancée are up to? They'll think you're crazy!"

"Give me some credit here. I'm not so stupid that I'd do something like that, but I am going to do something. I have to at least try,"

Scheduler sighed. "I guess there isn't really anything I can do to stop you. Just…don't forget about what your mission, 'kay? And I won't be around to help all the time, so be careful."

"Always am."

The two became quiet after that, letting their argument fully settle down. A moment later, Scheduler seemed to have remembered something as she felt up her pockets.

"I almost forgot," she said, her hand emerging with a black rectangular object. "Here."

Edward took the article and inspected it. "A phone? Who do you expect me to call, exactly?"

"Duh. Me!" Scheduler pointed to herself. "It's supposed to allow you to contact me if you need anything or if you have any questions. Beats having to talk to no one and expecting me to show up to answer."

"You have a point there," Edward nodded. "Huh. I never realized you guys from up there use technology, too."

"Hey, the digital age isn't limited to just this world," Scheduler laughed. "We gotta keep up with the times, man. Besides, where is it written that people in the afterlife aren't allowed iPhones?"

"Nowhere, I guess," Edward chuckled. He opened the list of contacts and saw 'Scheduler 3' registered.

"I see I already have your number," he noted. "Why didn't you put in your real name?"

"Because I don't remember it."

That made Edward pause. "You don't?"

"Nope," she shook her head. "I don't remember anything about when I was alive, actually."

"Why?"

Scheduler shrugged. "I dunno, but I'm sure there's a good reason behind it. 'God works in mysterious ways' and all that. Anyway, I should let you get to work before you're late."

Edward glanced at the clock. He had forty-five minutes before his shift began.

"Oh, and by the way," Scheduler said as she stood. "I'm the only person you can contact with that phone."

"Yeah, I figured. Who else do you think I would call?"

"Hmm, I don't know…perhaps a certain little brunette beauty who's caught your eye?"

Edward blinked rapidly. "Who, Bella? What – what makes you think I'll – I mean, not that I wouldn't want to, but – I mean –"

Scheduler laughed loudly. "Hey, I never mentioned anything about Bella. Though by the way you looked and sounded when you were talking about her earlier, there might be something between the two of you that you're not seeing."

Before he could formulate a reply, she had disappeared.

"Stupid cryptic little drill sergeant," Edward muttered. He left for work shortly after that, and reached Heaven ten minutes early. Bella was already there, meticulously icing an intricate pattern on a three-tiered cake.

"Morning, boss," Edward greeted with a large grin.

"Oh, hey Jasper," Bella paused to wave at him.

"That looks beautiful," he nodded at the baked dessert in front of her. "You're really good at that."

A warm blush covered Bella's cheeks and her tone turned shy. "Um, thank you, but I'm not really that good at cake decorating. The baking part's more my forte."

"You're being too modest. This is stunning ," Edward insisted as he took a closer look. "Everything's just so…delicate. I would definitely ruin this if you asked me to do it. These hands aren't meant for such gentle work, I'm afraid."

Bella stared at him as he spoke. The words that came out of his mouth were so familiar – they brought back memories that she had tried so hard to forget...

"You have to keep your hand steady – quit shaking so much!" Bella laughed as Edward ruined yet another sheet of sponge cake. She took the icing pipe from him in mock annoyance.

"I can't help it!" Edward held his hands up. "You're the baking expert around here, Bells. I'm just around for aesthetics."

"Aesthetics, huh."

"Yep," he popped the 'p'. "I'm the brawn and the muscle, while you're the brains and the cooking master. These hands are destined to do manly stuff like destroy things and fix cars, and yours are meant to make things pretty."

"Well, those muscles still better learn how to ice a cake properly; otherwise you're going to fail Home Ec."

Bella shook her head as she shoved the memory to the back of her mind.

The rest of the morning passed by normally with the regular influx of breakfast customers, and noon brought about the lunch patrons. Edward was busy carrying trays of pastas and Paninis to tables when he saw public enemy number one (in his world, anyway) enter.

Jacob was still in his suit and tie, but at least he didn't look as pompous as he did the last time. His eyes roved the café, and when he spotted what he was looking for, he moved quickly towards it. Edward watched as he stopped by the counter and called Bella's name.

Aw, hell no, Edward thought furiously. What the fuck does he want from her this time?!

"Uh, excuse me, but can you give us our food now please? We're starving over here!"

Edward's attention went back to the customers he was supposed to serve. After hastily depositing the contents of his tray on the table, he pretended to clean a table near the counter as he strained to hear what Jacob had to say.

"…to apologize again for my behaviour the other day."

"There isn't a need to say sorry twice, Jacob," Bella told him. She placed two glasses of lemonade on a tray that Jane quickly took.

"Still. I just wanted to let you know how sincere it was."

"Well…okay, then. Thanks, I guess."

"I'm just going through a lot of stress at the moment, and I guess I kinda took out my frustrations at your server," Jacob explained. "I mean, after Edward got into an accident –"

"Edward got hurt?" Bella interrupted. Suddenly, she was all ears. "What happened? Is he okay?"

"He got into a car accident, but he's alive, don't worry," Jacob assured her. "Well, he's in a coma, but still."

"Oh my God," Bella whispered. She took two steps back and covered her mouth with her hand. "I didn't…I mean, I didn't know…oh my God."

"Hey, hey. It's okay. His dad made sure he gets the best treatment over at Northwestern, and the doctor there said he's stable and has a chance of waking up."

Edward watched with inexplicable nervousness as Bella struggled to say something. She was shaking all over and looked so troubled that he worried she might collapse.

Thankfully, she didn't, and instead, ran out the door.

Many thanks again to AstridGreenEyes who volunteered to make a story banner.